John Francome has his first Saturday off after 27 years as a presenter for
Channel 4 Racing and, believe it or not, he is going racing.

That should be all the encouragement needed to back Poet, which he owns, to beat some pretty decent rivals in today’s 32Red (Tolworth) Hurdle at Sandown.

The seven year-old was a class act on the Flat, even running Derby winner Workforce to a length in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. But he was such a character that a career as a stallion was always a non-starter.

Francome, trainer Clive Cox’s landlord, took a punt, bought him, gelded him and schooled him. The result was an impressive hurdling debut at Newbury in December.

“If he jumps as well as he did at Newbury I’ll be thrilled,” said Francome. “I am completely unbiased, but I haven’t seen one – and a seven year-old at that – jump as well on their debut. Sometimes they don’t jump quite as well second time out, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t – he’s a proper man.

“He’s spent most of his life being chased along but he never came off the bridle at Newbury. It’s a good test for him at Sandown and he’ll find his level. He’ll give a good account of himself – he should be too good for this lot.”

The on-off-on Dipper Chase, which was due to be restaged on Saturday at Sandown is now off – finally. The Levy Board, which was having to stump up £17,500 to restage the race, understandably took the view it was not the best use of funds and withdrew its backing after only three horses were declared.

The race would effectively have been regarded by punters as a match between Captain Conan and Unioniste and though much needed by Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls for their two novices, it would have generated next to nothing in betting Levy.